FORT HOOD, Texas (Feb. 11, 2013) -- Deciding on a career can be a
difficult decision some make very late in life, but for 9-year-old Neil
Sawh of Houston, there's nothing he wants more than to be a Soldier.

Neil was diagnosed with a rare strain of Muscular Dystrophy at the age
of 7 and he received the opportunity of a lifetime when his parents
surprised him with a visit to Fort Hood.

"I told him, 'you're (going to) have to look out,'" said Nelini Sawh,
Neil's mother. "'They're going to be clues along the way. Let's see if
you can figure out where we're going.'"

Nelini said as soon as Neil saw the sign for Fort Hood; he was excited and spoke at the top of his voice.

Neil said, "Fort Hood! We're going to the Army base!"

San Francisco native Lt. Col. Jay Miseli, commander of Garryowen, said
there was no better way to get Neil involved than to incorporate him
into the already scheduled Garryowen Games.

"The bottom line is, we saw this as the perfect opportunity for Neil to
see what Soldiers do and experience it firsthand," Miseli said.

Neil appeared to be very shy and quiet, but opened up while on the obstacle course.

"Let's go Apache," Neil shouted.

Assisted by Miseli, Neil went alongside the Soldiers of Garryowen's
Troop A, and cheered them on as the troop completed the course with the
fastest time of 16 minutes, 57 seconds.

During a ceremony to recognize the winners of Garryowen Games, Miseli
enlisted Neil into the military as an honorary member of Garryowen. Neil
also received spurs, a Stetson, an Army Combat Uniform and was named
deputy squadron commander for the day, where he was allowed to help
Miseli make decisions.

"The thing I enjoyed most was watching him have this experience," Nelini
said. "I really enjoyed how everyone was just so friendly they came up
to his level and shook his hand. They treated him like one of their
own."

Neil's day as a Soldier didn't end with the Garryowen Games ceremony.
He was also given the opportunity to explore the U.S. Army Mission
Support Battalion's Special Operations Semi, a rolling exhibit depicting
Army Special Forces Soldiers at work around the globe.

Inside the semi, Neil flew a simulated helicopter. He also tested the
Immersa Dome display where he watched a video which submerged him in the
sights, sounds and smells of Army Special Operations Soldiers' various
types of training.

Neil and his father, Nevin Sawh, tested the ground mobility vehicle, a
team simulator where the driver uses monitors to maneuver through a city
while avoiding obstacles and the gunner wears a helmet with a display
screen to identify and engage enemy targets.

Nelini said Soldiers are Neil's idols and he's always wanted to join the Army.

"He has no other dream," said Nelini. "That's it -- to be a Soldier."

Nelini said she hopes there's a cure for the disease in Neil's lifetime
that will allow him to join the military. She describes Neil as caring,
thoughtful, compassionate and patriotic.

"'If I'm not a Soldier, I'm not (going) to do anything else with my
life,'" Nelini stated that Neil said about possible careers other than
the military. "'I'm just going to stay home.'"

Nelini explained she doesn't know why Neil has such a fascination with
the military and she said she thought he might grow out of it.

"I really haven't been able to pinpoint why he's so interested in the
military," Nelini explained. "He's just very proud and wants to be able
to serve in the military and be able to defend his country."

Nelini said she teaches Neil to work hard and never give up and she
hopes being a Soldier for a day gives him motivation and determination.

Being in a wheelchair and losing his ability to walk hasn't stopped Neil, Nelini explained.

"He always tells me on his 18th birthday he's not going to have a party,
he's going to go down and he's (going to) enlist himself," Nelini said.

When asked why he wants to be a Soldier, Neil stated, "I just always wanted to be one."

Nelini said the one thing she always wants Neil to remember is, no matter how hard things get to never give up.

"I think the Army and the military is just a good symbol of that because
you guys work so hard and do so much for our country and you never give
up," Nelini explained. "So I'm glad that he has the military and the
Army as an idol."

FORT HOOD, Texas (Feb. 11, 2013) -- Deciding on a career can be a
difficult decision some make very late in life, but for 9-year-old Neil
Sawh of Houston, there's nothing he wants more than to be a Soldier.

The Authors

Former Paratrooper and Army Officer, "Blackfive" started this blog upon learning of the valorous sacrifice of a friend that was not reported by the journalist whose life he saved. Email: blackfive AT gmail DOT com

Instapinch
Bill Paisley, otherwise known as Pinch, is a 22 year (ongoing) active and
reserve naval aviator. He blogs over at www.instapinch.com on a veritable
cornucopia of various and sundry items and will bring a tactical naval
aviator's perspective to Blackfive. Readers be warned: any comments of or
about the F-14 Tomcat will be reverential and spoken in low, hushed tones.
Email: wpaisley AT comcast DOT net

Mr. Wolf has over 26 years in the Army, Army NG, and USAR. He’s Airborne with 5 years as an NCO, before becoming an officer. Mr. Wolf has had 4 company commands. Signal Corp is his basic branch, and Public Affairs is his functional area. He recently served 22 straight months in Kuwait and Iraq, in Intel, PA, and senior staff of MNF-I. Mr. Wolf is now an IT executive. He is currently working on a book on media and the Iraq war. Functional gearhead.

In Iraq, he received the moniker of Mr. Wolf after the Harvey Kietel character in Pulp Fiction, when "challenges" arose, they called on Mr. Wolf...
Email: TheDOTMrDOTWolfAT gmail DOT com

Deebow is a Staff Sergeant and a Military Police Squad Leader in the Army National Guard. In a previous life, he served in the US Navy. He has over 19 years of experience in both the Maritime and Land Warfare; including deployments to Southwest Asia, Thailand, the South Pacific, South America and Egypt. He has served as a Military Police Team Leader and Protective Services Team Leader and he has served on assignments with the US State Department, US Air Force Security Police, US Army Criminal Investigation Division, and the US Drug Enforcement Administration. He recently spent time in Afghanistan working with, training and fighting alongside Afghan Soldiers and is now focused on putting his 4 year Political Science degree to work by writing about foreign policy, military security policy and politics.

McQ has 28 years active and reserve service. Retired. Infantry officer. Airborne and Ranger. Consider my 3 years with the 82nd as the most fun I ever had with my clothes on. Interests include military issues and policy and veteran's affairs.
Email: mcq51 -at - bellsouth -dot- net

Tantor is a former USAF navigator/weapon system officer (WSO) in F-4E Phantoms who served in the US, Asia, and Europe. He is now a curmudgeonly computer geek in Washington, DC, picking the taxpayers pocket. His avocations are current events, aviation, history, and conservative politics.

Twenty-three years of Active and Reserve service in the US Army in SF (18B), Infantry and SOF Signal jobs with operational deployments to Bosnia and Africa. Since retiring he's worked as Senior Defense Analyst on SOF and Irregular Warfare projects and currently ensconced in the emerging world of Cyberspace.

The Authors Emeritus

Major Pain --
A Marine who began his blog in Iraq and reflects back on what he learned there and in Afghanistan. To the point opinions, ideas and thoughts on military, political and the media from One Marine’s View.Email: onemarinesview AT yahoo DOT com

Uber Pig was an Infantryman from late 1991 until early 1996, serving with Second Ranger Battalion, I Corps, and then 25th Infantry Division. At the time, the Army discriminated against enlisted soldiers who wanted use the "Green to Gold" program to become officers, so he left to attend Stanford University. There, he became expert in detecting, avoiding, and surviving L-shaped ambushes, before dropping out to be as entrepreneurial as he could be. He is now the founder of a software startup serving the insurance and construction industries, and splits time between Lake Tahoe, Boonville, and San Francisco, CA.

Uber Pig writes for Blackfive a) because he's the proud brother of an enlisted Civil Affairs Reservist who currently serves in Iraq, b) because he looks unkindly on people who make it harder for the military in general, and for his brother in particular, to succeed at their missions and come home in victory, and c) because the Blackfive readers and commenters help keep him sane.

COB6 spent 24 years in the active duty Army that included 5 combat tours with service in the 1st Ranger Battalion and 1st Special Forces Group . COB6 was enlisted (E-7) and took the OCS route to a commission. COB6 retired a few years back as a field grade Infantry officer.
Currently COB6 has a son in the 82nd Airborne that just returned from his third tour and has a newly commissioned daughter in the 4th Infantry Division.